Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The 24th-ranked University of San Diego women's volleyball team outlasted Gonzaga University, 3-2, Saturday afternoon in a West Coast Conference match at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

With the 21-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-18, 17-15 win, the Toreros improve to 9-5 overall, remain perfect in WCC play at 2-0 and they have increased their winning streak over the Zags to 27 consecutive matches. With the loss, there Bulldogs fall to 9-4 overall and 0-2 in the WCC.

Sandra Lozic led the way offensively for the Toreros, as she had a team-best 17 kills, while also recording 18 digs to post a double-double. Alaysia Brown was the second Torero in double-digit kills as she too had 17 kills on the afternoon to go along with three blocks, two solo. Canace Finley was the final USD player in double-digit kills, as she had 14, and she racked up five blocks on the afternoon. Jianna Bonomi recorded a season-high 58 assists in the match, while also recording 11 digs to post a double-double, and Hunter Jennings had 14 digs, while Marve Tanyel added in 11 digs.

In the first set, it was a back and forth battle right out of the gates. Gonzaga was standing toe-to-toe with the defending WCC champs for the first half of the frame. Then with the score knotted at 12-all, the Zags went on a 7-3 run to take a 19-15 lead, forcing the Toreros into a timeout. Out of the break, the Bulldogs managed to remain in front and never looked back, as they went onto stun the Toreros with a 25-21 victory.

In the second set, USD came out firing on all cylinders and opened the frame with a 5-1 run, and they managed to maintain a 4-5 point lead for then next several possessions. After a GU timeout with the score at 10-5 in favor of USD, the Zags managed to begin chipping away at the lead and pulled to within three at 15-12, forcing the Toreros into a timeout. Gonzaga then continued to chip away at the lead and eventually tied things up at 19-all. However, a GU service error then sparked a 3-0 USD run to give San Diego a 22-19 lead, forcing the Zags into a timeout San Diego then closed things out with a 3-1 run to even the match at one set a piece.

In the third set, it was once again a close battle right from the get-go, as both teams took their turn with the lead and neither team led by more than two. Then after the Toreros managed to grab a 3-point edge at 21-18, the Zags rattled off three straight points to force San Diego into a timeout. USD grabbed the next two points only to see the Zags answer back with four straight points to claim the third set 25-23.

In the fourth set, with their backs against the wall, San Diego responded well. The Toreros would race out to a 4-1 lead, and then maintain that lead for a majority of the frame, and eventually took a 15-10 lead, which forced the Zags into a timeout. USD then increased its lead to six at 18-12, to once again force GU into a timeout. The Zags just could not recover from this, as USD cruised its way to a 25-18 win, forcing a fifth and deciding set.

In the fifth set, both teams continued to battle and after GU grabbed a 6-3 lead, a Gonzaga service error sparked a 7-2 San Diego run, which forced the Bulldogs to burn a timeout, trailing 10-8. Gonzaga never let USD get too far ahead, and with the Toreros up 13-11, GU managed to grab the next three points to take match-point at 14-13. A Lauren Schad kill and GU attack error then gave USD match-point at 15-14. GU then grabbed the next point to even things up, but a Gonzaga attack error followed by a Brown kill gave USD the victory 17-15.

San Diego will return to action on Tuesday, as they travel to Los Angeles to take on Loyola Marymount in a 6 p.m. WCC match at the Gersten Pavilion.